Role of Circadian Rhythm Changes on Functional Dependence Despite Successful Repercussion in Patients with Endovascular Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence of circadian biology may influence the physiopathologic mechanism, progression, and recovery of stroke. However, few data have shown about circadian rhythm on futile recanalization (FR) in patients treated with endovascular treatment (EVT). METHODS: From 2017 to 2021, an observational cohort of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) underwent EVT was conducted. FR was defined as the failure to achieve functional independence in patients at 90 days after EVT, although the occluded vessels reached a recanalization. The effect of circadian rhythm on FR was investigated using the logistic regression model. RESULTS: Of 783 patients, there were 149 patients who had stroke onset between 23:00-6:59, 318 patients between 7:00-14:59, and 316 patients between 15:00-22:59. Patients suffered a stroke during 15:00-22:59 had shorter OTP (p =0.001) time, shorter OTR (p<0.001) time, higher rate of intravenous thrombolysis (p =0.001) than groups of other time intervals. The rate of FR post-EVT in patients who had a stroke between 15:00-22:59 was significantly higher than in those with stroke onset between 23:00-6:59 (p =0.017). After adjusting for confounding factors, the time of stroke occurring during 15:00-22:59 (adjusted OR [aOR], 1.652; 95%CI, 1.024-2.666, p =0.04) was an independent predictor of FR. CONCLUSION: Circadian rhythm can directly or indirectly affect the occurrence, development, and prognosis of AIS. More studies may be needed in the future to validate the results of our study and to explore the potential mechanisms behind the effects of circadian rhythms on FR.

Brucea javanica Seed Oil Emulsion and Shengmai Injections Improve Peripheral Microcirculation in Treatment of Gastric Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To explore and verify the effect and potential mechanism of Brucea javanica Seed Oil Emulsion Injection (YDZI) and Shengmai Injection (SMI) on peripheral microcirculation dysfunction in treatment of gastric cancer (GC). METHODS: The potential mechanisms of YDZI and SMI were explored through network pharmacology and verified by cellular and clinical experiments. Human microvascular endothelial cells (HMECs) were cultured for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured for tube formation assay. Twenty healthy volunteers and 97 patients with GC were enrolled. Patients were divided into surgical resection, surgical resection with chemotherapy, and surgical resection with chemotherapy combining YDZI and SMI groups. Forearm skin blood perfusion was measured and recorded by laser speckle contrast imaging coupled with post-occlusive reactive hyperemia. Cutaneous vascular conductance and microvascular reactivity parameters were calculated and compared across the groups. RESULTS: After network pharmacology analysis, 4 ingredients, 82 active compounds, and 92 related genes in YDZI and SMI were screened out. ß-Sitosterol, an active ingredient and intersection compound of YDZI and SMI, upregulated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2, P<0.01), downregulated the expression of caspase 9 (CASP9) and estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1, P<0.01) in HMECs under oxaliplatin stimulation, and promoted tube formation through VEGFA. Chemotherapy significantly impaired the microvascular reactivity in GC patients, whereas YDZI and SMI ameliorated this injury (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: YDZI and SMI ameliorated peripheral microvascular reactivity in GC patients. ß-Sitosterol may improve peripheral microcirculation by regulating VEGFA, PTGS2, ESR1, and CASP9.

Peteryoungia algae sp. nov. isolated from seaweeds of Gouqi Island, China, and its unique genetic features among Peteryoungia strains.

A Gram-stain-negative, light khaki, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped, motile via multiple flagella, and catalase- and oxidase-positive bacterium, designated as SSM4.3T, was isolated from the seaweed of Gouqi Island in the East China Sea. The novel isolate grows at 0-5.0% NaCl concentrations (w/v) (optimum 1%), pH 5.0-9.0 (optimum pH 7.0), and 15-37 °C (optimum 30 °C). The 16S rRNA gene sequences-based phylogeny indicates that the novel marine isolate belongs to the family Rhizobiaceae and that it shared the greatest sequence similarity (98.9%) with Peteryoungia rhizophila CGMCC 1.15691T. This classification was also supported by phylogenetic analysis using core genes. The predominant fatty acids (≥ 10%) of the strain were identified as C18:1 ω7c/C18:1 ω6c. Q-10 was identified as the major isoprenoid quinone, with trace levels of Q-9 present. The major polar lipids were identified as diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The complete genome size of strain SSM4.3T is 4.39 Mb with a DNA G+C content of 61.3%. The average nucleotide identity, digital DNA-DNA hybridization, and average amino acid identity values between the genomes of strain SSM4.3T and its closely related representatives were 74.80-86.93%, 20.00-32.30%, and 70.30-91.52%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis, grounded on the core genes, reveals the evolutionary relationship between SSM4.3T and other Peteryoungia strains. Pan-genomics analysis of 8 previously classified Peteryoungia species and SSM4.3T revealed their unique genetic features and functions. Overall, strain SSM4.3T was considered to be a new species of the Peteryoungia genus; the name Peteryoungia algae sp. nov. has been proposed, with type strain SSM4.3T (= LMG 32561 = MCCC 1K07170).

Remote ischemic conditioning prevents ischemic cerebrovascular events in children with moyamoya disease: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a significant cause of childhood stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) in children with MMD. METHODS: In a single-center pilot study, 46 MMD patients aged 4 to 14 years, with no history of reconstructive surgery, were randomly assigned to receive either RIC or sham RIC treatment twice daily for a year. The primary outcome measured was the cumulative incidence of major adverse cerebrovascular events (MACEs). Secondary outcomes included ischemic stroke, recurrent TIA, hemorrhagic stroke, revascularization rates, and clinical improvement assessed using the patient global impression of change (PGIC) scale during follow-up. RIC-related adverse events were also recorded, and cerebral hemodynamics were evaluated using transcranial Doppler. RESULTS: All 46 patients completed the final follow-up (23 each in the RIC and sham RIC groups). No severe adverse events associated with RIC were observed. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated a significant reduction in MACEs frequency after RIC treatment [log-rank test (Mantel-Cox), P = 0.021]. At 3-year follow-up, two (4.35%) patients had an ischemic stroke, four (8.70%) experienced TIAs, and two (4.35%) underwent revascularization as the qualifying MACEs. The clinical improvement rate in the RIC group was higher than the sham RIC group on the PGIC scale (65.2% vs. 26.1%, P < 0.01). No statistical difference in cerebral hemodynamics post-treatment was observed. CONCLUSIONS: RIC is a safe and effective adjunct therapy for asymptomatic children with MMD. This was largely due to the reduced incidence of ischemic cerebrovascular events.

Characterization and Genomic Analysis of Affinirhizobium gouqiense sp. nov. Isolated from Seawater of Gouqi Island Located in the East China Sea and Reclassification of Rhizobium lemnae to the Genus Affinirhizobium as Affinirhizobium lemnae comb. nov.

A novel bacterium designated as SSA5.23T was isolated from seawater. Cells of SSA5.23T are Gram-stain-negative, short, rod-shaped, and exhibit motility via numerous peritrichous flagella. The strain could grow at temperatures ranging from 15 to 35 °C (optimum at 25 °C), in a salinity range of 0-5.0% (w/v) NaCl, and within a pH range of 6.0-9.0 (optimum at pH 7.0). The predominant cellular fatty acid of SSA5.23T was C18:1 ω7c/C18:1 ω6c, and the major respiratory quinones were Q-9 and Q-10. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylglycerol were identified as the primary polar lipids. The complete genome (5.47 Mb) of SSA5.23T comprises of a circular chromosome of 3.64 Mb and three plasmids, specifically sized at 59.73 kb, 227.82 kb, and 1.54 Mb, respectively. Certain genes located on the plasmids play roles in denitrification, oxidative stress resistance, and osmotic tolerance, which likely contribute to the adaptability of this strain in marine conditions. Core-proteome average amino acid identity analysis effectively identified the strain's affiliation with the genus Affinirhizobium, showing the highest value (89.9%) with Affinirhizobium pseudoryzae DSM 19479T. This classification was further supported by the phylogenetic analysis of concatenated alignment of 170 single-copy orthologous proteins. When compared to related reference strains, SSA5.23T displayed an average nucleotide identity ranging from 74.9 to 80.3% and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values ranging from 19.9 to 23.9%. Our findings confirmed that strain SSA5.23T represents a novel species of the genus Affinirhizobium, for which the name Affinirhizobium gouqiense sp. nov. (type strain SSA5.23T = LMG 32560T = MCCC 1K07165T) was suggested.

The predictive value of albumin to alkaline phosphatase ratio for vertebral refractures in postmenopausal women.

INTRODUCTION: To investigate the clinical value of serum albumin to alkaline phosphatase ratio (AAPR) in predicting the risk of osteoporotic vertebral refractures group (OVRFs) after percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA) in postmenopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective case-control study including a series of postmenopausal women patients with osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) and underwent PVA. Patients were divided into OVRFs and non-OVRFs. COX model was used to evaluate the correlation between preoperative AAPR and OVRFs after PVA. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Kaplan-Meier method were used to analyze the predictive value of AAPR for the incidence of OVRFs. RESULTS: A total of 305 patients were included in the final study, and the incidence of postoperative OVRFs was 28.9%. Multivariate COX analysis showed that advanced age (HRs = 1.062, p = 0.002), low BMI (HRs = 0.923, p = 0.036), low AAPR (HRs = 0.019, p = 0.001), previous fall history (HRs = 3.503, p = 0.001), denosumab treatment (HRs = 0.409, p = 0.007), low L3 BMD (HRs = 0.977, p = 0.001) and low L3 paravertebral muscle density (PMD)value (HRs = 0.929, p = 0.001)) were closely related to the incidence of OVRFs. The area under the curve (AUC) of AAPR for predicting OVRFs was 0.740 (p < 0.001), and the optimal diagnostic cut-off value was 0.49. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that low AAPR group (< 0.49) was significantly associated with lower OVRFs-free survival (p = 0.001; log-rank test). CONCLUSION: AAPR is an independent risk factor for OVRFs after PVA in postmenopausal women, and it can be used as an effective index to predict OVRFs.

Conical quasi-phase-matching second harmonic generation in a 2D photonic crystal with hybrid Ewald geometric method.

The direction variation of the fundamental wave in the same nonlinear photonic crystal would cause different pattern of harmonics generation. In a 2D/3D crystal with dense reciprocal lattice vectors, there will be large numbers of conical harmonic beams evolving with direction change of the fundamental wave. By rearranging the Ewald sphere and superposing it into the Ewald shell, we have a hybrid Ewald construction. It becomes a simple but useful geometric method to comprehensively depict the distribution of these quasi-phase-matching second harmonics and their conical form evolution. It presents conical second harmonic beams by their related reciprocal lattice vectors and simplifies the beams' distribution according to spatial arrangement of those reciprocal lattice vectors. It finds that the conical beams will create, annihilate, or get enhanced in specific order when fundamental waves change incident directions. We applied the method on a periodically poled 2D LiTaO3 crystal and all observed phenomena, meet the method's predictions. In our experiment, we observed that the conical beams distorted along the optic axis of the sample due to anisotropy, which was generally overlooked by earlier researches. The eccentricities of their ring projections suggest a potential auxiliary approach for crystal dispersion measurement.

Mining co-location patterns of manufacturing firms using Q statistic and additive color mixing.

The agglomeration effect significantly influences firms' site selection. Manufacturing firms often exhibit intricate spatial co-location patterns that are indicative of agglomerations due to their reliance on material input and product output across various subdivisions of manufacture. In this study, we present an analytical approach employing the Q statistic and additive color mixing visualization to assess co-location patterns of manufacturing firms. We identified frequent pairs and triplets of manufacturing divisions, mapping them to reveal distinct categories: labor-intensive clusters, upstream/downstream industrial chains, and technology-spillover clusters. These agglomeration categories concentrate in different regions of the city. Policy implications are proposed to promote the upgrade of labor-intensive divisions, enhance the operational efficiency of upstream/downstream industrial chains, and reinforce the spillover effects of technology-intensive divisions.

Colony performance of three native bumblebee species from South China and association with their gut microbiome.

Bumblebees play an important ecological economic role as pollinators in nature and agriculture. For reasons of biosecurity, many countries promote the cultivation of native bumblebee species for crop pollination instead of importing "alien" species. In South China, a few bumblebee species are considered useful in this way, particularly, Bombus atripes, Bombus bicoloratus and Bombus breviceps. However, whether they are suitable for artificial rearing and forming healthy colonies for pollination, remains unknown. In this project, queens from the 3 native species of Guizhou Province were collected and colonies were started under standardized conditions. The colonies were scored based on 19 parameters, including the stage of colony development, number and weight of offspring, and diet consumed. The data revealed that B. breviceps had the best performance, produced more workers and consumed the smallest diet. Next, we performed 16S rDNA sequencing of the bacterial communities found in the guts of offspring workers, and then a correlation analysis between colony performance and gut bacteria was conducted. Here, B. breviceps showed the highest diversity in gut bacterial composition, dominated by the bacteria Gilliamella, Snodgrassella, Enterobacter, and Lactobacillus Firm5. The higher the abundance of Snodgrassella, the better the performance of the colony in the foundation stage, and later Lactobacillus Firm5, Apibacter and Bifidobacterium were beneficial during the stages of rapid growth and colony decline. Although we do not understand all of the interactions yet, these correlations explain why B. breviceps demonstrated better colony performance. Our data provide valuable information for breeding local Bombus species and will contribute to developing strong colonies for crop pollination.

[Effects of Experimental Nitrogen Deposition and Litter Manipulation on Soil Organic Components and Enzyme Activity of Latosol in Tropical Rubber Plantations].

It is of great scientific significance in regulating plantation ecosystem restoration to investigate the effects of the nitrogen (N) deposition and litter manipulation on soil organic carbon components and enzyme activities. A micro-plot experiment was conducted with four nitrogen additions[CK (0 kg·hm-2·a-1, calculated by N), LN (50 kg·hm-2·a-1), MN (100 kg·hm-2·a-1), and HN (200 kg·hm-2·a-1)] and two litter treatments[LR (litter removal) and L (litter retained)] for tropical rubber plantations in western Hainan Island. The soil physico-chemical properties, soil organic carbon components, and enzyme activities in 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm depths were analyzed. The results showed that soil pH significantly decreased with elevated N addition and litter removal. The contents of NO3--N and NH4+-N significantly increased with elevated N addition. Moreover, there was a significant interaction between N addition and litter treatment on the contents of NO3--N and NH4+-N (P < 0.05). Compared to that with L, LR reduced SOC and its component contents; particularly, the largest decrease was in LFOC by 29.0%-81.4% in the 0-10 cm depth and 23.5%-58.4% in 10-20 cm, respectively. The contents of SOC and its components presented a trend of increasing first and then decreasing with elevated N addition irrespective of litter treatment, and those contents were significantly higher at LN than those at HN. There was a significant interaction between N addition and litter treatment on SOC, LFOC (0-10 cm), and HFOC contents. Compared with that under L, PPO activity was significantly reduced at LR under CK and LN but was significantly increased at LR under MN and HN, respectively. Variance analysis showed significant interactive effects between N addition and litter treatment on PPO and CBH (0-10 cm) activities, and the soil enzyme activity (BG, PPO, and CBH) responding to N addition was greater than that to the litter treatment. Pearson correlation analysis showed that SOC content was extremely positively correlated with MBC, POC, LFOC, and HFOC contents. To summarize, litter retained combined with low N deposition played an important synergistic role of improving SOC pool and soil enzyme activities for tropical rubber plantation systems.

The Effects of Abdominal Obesity and Sagittal Imbalance on Sacroiliac Joint Pain After Lumbar Fusion.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative sacroiliac joint pain (SIJP) is a common manifestation of failed back surgery syndrome after a posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). However, there is currently no consensus on the risk factors for SIJP after PLIF. OBJECTIVES: We explored the effects of abdominal obesity and sagittal imbalance on SIJP after PLIF. STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective observational cohort study. SETTING: This study occurred at the Department of Spinal Surgery at a hospital affiliated with a medical university. METHODS: A total of 401 patients who underwent PLIF from June 2018 to June 2021 were enrolled in this study. 36 patients experienced postoperative SIJP. In contrast, a matched group comprised 72 non-SIJP patients. We used 1:2 propensity score matching to compare obesity features and sagittal spine parameters in the 2 groups. Inflammatory cytokines and visual analog scale (VAS) scores were measured in the SIJP group. RESULTS: A total of 36 patients (8.98%) experienced SIJP during the follow-up. Compared with the non-SIJP group, patients with postoperative SIJP had a higher body mass index (BMI), greater abdominal obesity, a higher incidence of pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis greater than 10°, and a higher incidence of a sagittal vertical axis greater than 5 cm (P < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under the curve for waist circumference was greater than that for BMI (0.762 vs. 0.650, P = 0.049). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk factors for SIJP were abdominal obesity, a pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis of greater than 10°, and a sagittal vertical axis greater than 5 cm (P < 0.05). In patients with SIJP, interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and VAS scores were higher in the abdominal obesity group than in the non-abdominal obesity group (P < 0.05). LIMITATIONS: There was no uniform diagnosis of SIJP, so the incidence rate of SIJP might not be accurate. CONCLUSIONS: The significant predictors of SIJP were abdominal obesity and sagittal imbalance. Patients with abdominal obesity showed higher levels of inflammatory markers and pain intensity. More attention should be paid to body shape and the angle of correction of lumbar lordosis before lumbar surgery.

Environmental pollutants and phosphoinositide signaling in autoimmunity.

Environmental pollution stands as one of the most critical challenges affecting human health, with an estimated mortality rate linked to pollution-induced non-communicable diseases projected to range from 20% to 25%. These pollutants not only disrupt immune responses but can also trigger immunotoxicity. Phosphoinositide signaling, a pivotal regulator of immune responses, plays a central role in the development of autoimmune diseases and exhibits high sensitivity to environmental stressors. Among these stressors, environmental pollutants have become increasingly prevalent in our society, contributing to the initiation and exacerbation of autoimmune conditions. In this review, we summarize the intricate interplay between phosphoinositide signaling and autoimmune diseases within the context of environmental pollutants and contaminants. We provide an up-to-date overview of stress-induced phosphoinositide signaling, discuss 14 selected examples categorized into three groups of environmental pollutants and their connections to immune diseases, and shed light on the associated phosphoinositide signaling pathways. Through these discussions, this review advances our understanding of how phosphoinositide signaling influences the coordinated immune response to environmental stressors at a biological level. Furthermore, it offers valuable insights into potential research directions and therapeutic targets aimed at mitigating the impact of environmental pollutants on the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. SYNOPSIS: Phosphoinositide signaling at the intersection of environmental pollutants and autoimmunity provides novel insights for managing autoimmune diseases aggravated by pollutants.

[Exploring the location of acupoint Dubi (ST35)].

Acupoint Dubi(ST35), one of the commonly used acupuncture points in clinical practice, has long been equated as the acupoint Waixiyan(EX-LE5) in the academic community. By referring to the location of ST35 elaborated in the relevant literature in the ancient and modern times, we analyze the evolution of its position and expound its clinical significance of the correct positioning in the present paper. We think that under posture of knee flexion, the position of ST35 should be between the lower edge of the patella and the upper tip of the tibia, at the midpoint of the patella ligament.

Comparison of Morphological Characteristics of Antennae and Antennal Sensilla among Four Species of Bumblebees (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

Bumblebees, as pollinators, play an important role in maintaining natural and agricultural ecosystems. Antennae with sensilla of bumblebees as social insects have essential effects in foraging, nest searching, courting, and mating, and are different in species and sexes. Previous studies on the morphology of antennae and sensilla in bumblebees have been limited to a few species and a single caste. To better understand how bumblebees detect and receive the chemical signal from nectariferous plants and foraging behavior, the morphology of antennae with sensilla, including the antennal length, and type, distribution, and number of antennal sensilla in four species, Bombus atripes, Bombus breviceps, Bombus flavescens, and Bombus terrestris was compared by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) herein. The total antennal length of queens are the longest and workers are the shortest in three castes, and in four species the longest of the total antennal length among three castes all are in B. flavescens, which is significantly longer than other species (p < 0.05) and the length of the scape in queens and workers are both longer than males, significantly different in queens (p < 0.05), and not significantly different in workers (p > 0.05), and the length of flagellums in females are not always shorter than males, of which the length of flagellms in queens of B. flavescens are significantly longer than males (p < 0.05), and the length of pedicel and all flagellomeres varies among species and castes. A total of 13 major types of sensilla in total were observed, including trichodea sensilla (TS A-E), placodea sensilla (PS A-B), basiconica sensilla (BaS), coeloconica sensilla (COS A-B), chaetic sensilla (CS A-B), and Böhm sensilla (BS), of which chaetic sensilla B (CS B), only observed in females of B. atripes, was firstly reported in Apidae. Moreover, the number of all sensilla was the most in males, the least was in workers, the number of sensilla varies within castes and species. Furthermore, the morphological characteristics of antennae and the potential functions of sensilla are discussed.

Higher Essential Amino Acid and Crude Protein Contents in Pollen Accelerate the Oviposition and Colony Foundation of Bombus breviceps (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

Pollen is an important source of nutrition for bumblebees to survive, reproduce, and raise their offspring. To explore the nutritional requirements for the egg laying and hatching of queenright Bombus breviceps colonies, camellia pollen, oilseed rape pollen, apricot pollen, and mixtures of two or three types of pollen in equal proportions were used to feed the queens in this study. The results showed that the camellia pollen with a higher essential amino acid content was superior to the pollen with a lower essential amino acid content in the initial egg-laying time (p < 0.05), egg number (p < 0.05), larval ejection (p < 0.01), time of first worker emergence (p < 0.05), and the average weight of workers in the first batch (p < 0.01). It took less time for colonies under the camellia pollen and camellia-oilseed rape-apricot pollen mix treatments, both with a higher crude protein content, to reach ten workers in the colony (p < 0.01). On the contrary, the queens fed apricot pollen never laid an egg, and larvae fed oilseed rape pollen were all ejected-both pollens with a lower essential amino acid content. The results emphasize that the diet should be rationally allocated to meet the nutritional needs of local bumblebees at various stages when guiding them to lay eggs, hatch, and develop a colony.

Efficient Coarse-Grained Superplasticity of a Gigapascal Lightweight Refractory Medium Entropy Alloy.

Superplastic metals that exhibit exceptional ductility (>300%) are appealing for use in high-quality engineering components with complex shapes. However, the wide application of most superplastic alloys has been constrained due to their poor strength, the relatively long superplastic deformation period, and the complex and high-cost grain refinement processes. Here these issues are addressed by the coarse-grained superplasticity of high-strength lightweight medium entropy alloy (Ti43.3 V28 Zr14 Nb14 Mo0.7 , at.%) with a microstructure of ultrafine particles embedded in the body-centered-cubic matrix. The results demonstrate that the alloy reached a high coarse-grained superplasticity greater than ≈440% at a high strain rate of 10-2 s-1 at 1173 K and with a gigapascal residual strength. A consecutively triggered deformation mechanism that sequences of dislocation slip, dynamic recrystallization, and grain boundary sliding in such alloy differs from conventional grain-boundary sliding in fine-grained materials. The present results open a pathway for highly efficient superplastic forming, broaden superplastic materials to the high-strength field, and guide the development of new alloys.